Dirigible airship.



E. E. SMITH.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1. 90a. RENEWED SEPT.26, 1911.

Patented June 27, 1916.

W5 It" @0080 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. SMITH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

DIBIGIBLE AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Juli 27, 1916.

Application filed January 7, 1908, Serial No. 409,616. Renewed September26, 1911. Serial No. 651,461.

To all whom it may concern:

' construction and Be it known that I, EDWARD E. SMITH, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at the city of Providence, in the'county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Dirigible Airships, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the-accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to dirigible airships, and has for its object toproduce a ship having a specially constructed tubular frame or car whichis provided with adjustable wings or vanes for supporting the same whilein flight.

A feature of the invention is to so construct the wings that the freeends may be raised or lowered and set at the required angle.

tubular frame, the upper portion only, or the whole of said frame may becovered to present an extended area to assist the wings in supportingthe car. This body is preferably constructed of a series of hoopsconnected together by slats or stringers, and having the propelling andsteering mechanism supported and operated within the same.

I do not confine myself to the wings or vanes for supporting this car asgas-bags may be employed to lend buoyancy to the same, if desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lis a central sectional sideelevation of my improved air-ship showing the general arrangement of themechanism therein contained. Fig. 2is an end view of the ship showingthe general shape of the car and one set of Wings as being spread, alsoshowing the supports for the shaft bearing. Fig. 3illustrates the carwith the wings folded around the body of the same, and showing thepassenger platform as being suspended from its roof.

feature of the invention is that the car or body is made in the form ofa,

Fig. 4.is a diagram illustrating a second set of wings located above thefirst set and,

indicating both of said sets in dotted lines as be ng ra1 se d on anangle to the body, in which position they are placed when it is desiredto lower the car to drop the same bodily to a lower level. Fig: 5is aperspective view of the car showing the gentail in perspective showingthe manner of attaching the slats or ribs to the hoops.

Fig. 7is a plan view showing the rearv end of the car, its rudder forsteering the same to the rightand left, and the connecting tiller ropes.Fig. 8is a detail showing the pair of rudders for steering the shipeither up or down while the same is being forced ahead.

The body of the car is a frame work con- 'structed of a plurality ofhoops 1-1 which are spaced apart or set'close to each other throughoutitslength. These hoops may be constructed of wood, or other suitablelight springy or resilient material, and are preferably made in acircular form. As it is desirable 'in this particular construction totake the same apart quickly and reduce the car to the smallest possiblespace for the purpose of facilitating the storage or ship- ;ment I haveprovided slats or stringers 22 which tie these hoo s together and formthe whole into a cylin rical body which is stiff and durable inconstruction and extremely light in weight. In order to attach theseslats to the hoops in a s' ple and effective manner, whereby the samemay be quickly detached therefrom, said slats are provided with shortslots 3 having a hole at one end thereof as at t for the purpose ofadmit-, ting the bolt head 5 which projectsfrom the face of the hoop. Bythis means it is only necessary to place the slats over the bolt headsand then by moving them endwise they are securely locked to the hoopsafter which a thumb screw 6- may be mserted into their ends securelylocking the whole together, and by overlapping these slats one beyondthe other the car body may be constructed any desired length by the useof comparatively short stringers.

In order to form an extended surface or area to assist in supporting thecar while inthe air I cover the top of this body portion with silk orother suitable material 7, but the bottom portion may also be covered ifdesired. If desired this car may be formed into a dirigible balloon byprovid ing a gas-bag 8 for supporting it, or the same may be formed intoan aeroplane by omitting the said gas-bag and attaching wings 99thereto. These wings may be made in any desired form but in Fig. 2 Iillustrate the ribs of the wings as being constructed of a lightflexible material and attached to the upper portion of the car, theouter or free ends of the same being connected by means of the cords10-l0 around the pulleys 11-11 to the reel 12 which is adapted to berotated to wind up said cords to draw the wings in and wrap them aboutthe body in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3.

Another manner of connecting and operating these wings is illustrated inFig. 4 in which is shown an extra set of wings 13 which are connected tothe car body by the standard or rib 14 which may extend along the top ofthe car body. Both sets of these wings are pivoted at their inner endsat 15 and 16 respectively, their outer ends being retained by cords 10and 17 respectively, and when it is desired to drop the car bodily fromone level to another these cords may be slackened permitting the wingsto rise into the position shown in dotted lines, which quickly decreasestheir effective area. After the car has dropped to the desired level thewings are drawn back again to their original position.

The ship may be rapidly propelled either forward or backward by means ofthe propelling fans 18-18 which are mounted on the shaft 19 andconnected thereto by means of clutches 37 and 38 and driven by the motor20 through the sprocket chain 21.

When it is desired to raise the ship directly from the ground thevertical motion is given to the same through two sets of propelling fans22 and 23, one set being arranged at'each end of the car. These fans arearranged in pairs, the fans of each pair being driven in oppositedirections by the gears 24, 25 and 26 and shaft 19 which is connectedthrough the clutches 35 and 36.

A hole 27 of sufiicient size, see Fig. 5, is cut through the roof of thecar above each of these sets of fans so that their lifting action on thecar may be more effective.

A rudder 28 is made in a semi-circular form so as to just fit into oneof the hoops when not in use, the same being located at the rear end ofthe" ship and provided with a tiller 29 and tiller ropes 303O wherebythe ship may be guided to the right or to the left by the pilot incharge.

At 31 and 32 are rudders or vanes set on a horizontal plane both ofwhich are connected together by means of the tiller ropes 32*, as shownin Fig. 8, whereby both may be operated simultaneously to change thecourse of the car either up or down while in its flight.

A novel feature of this invention is the suspending of a passengerplatform 33 from the upper portion of the car by means of the cords 34,the object of this construction being that the passengers will notreceive the direct effect of the shock should the car land with unusualforce, as this shock would be taken up or absorbed, to a great degree,by the spring of the resilient hoops and only a small portion of thesame transmitted to the passengers on the platform.

Wheels 40-40 are located at each end of the car to facilitate moving thecar about on the ground when desired, and also when it is desired tostart the same from the ground by running it forward.

The operation of my improved air-ship may be further described asfollows: The operator may be seated in any convenient place in the carand all of the controlling and operating levers (not shown) will bewithin easy reach. When the ship is at rest and it is desired to startby raising directly upward it will be first necessary to throw in theclutches 35 and 36 and start the upwardly propelling fans 22 and 23. Theship will then rise vertically until it is at the desired elevationWhen'the clutches 37 and 38 will be thrown into mesh to rotate the fans1818 when the ship will start ahead. By tipping the vanes or steeringdevice 31 and 32 at the proper angle to the horizontal plane of the carthe ship may be guided either up or down, while the rudder at the rearserves to steer the ship to the right or left.

By the construction shown, which is that of a series of hoops heldtogether by detachable slats, the car may be quickly taken apart andreduced to an extremely small space for the purpose of shipping andstoring.

The ship is extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive in itsconstruction, it is effective in its operation and by the mechanismshown can be easily managed and nicely controlled.

I have shown 1 and described the hoops which form the ribs of the bodyas set at substantially a right angle to the axis of the body, but thesehoops may be set on an incline to this axis and instead of being formedseparate and independent of each other may be connected to each other inthe form of a helix.

I have also shown and described these hoops as connected together bymeans of slats laid longitudinally or parallel with the axis of the bodyand readily removable therefrom, but I do not wish to be restricted tothis construction as these slats may be bent into the desired form toobtain the greatest buoyancy or lifting power, any means for supportingthese planes so that their outer portions may be curved downwardly andadjusted to the required curvature will fall within the spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: V I

1. An air ship comprising a carbody made of lattice work construction,yieldable ribbed wings supporting said body and stays leading from theribs in the wings to said car body and means whereby said wings may beadjusted and retained in the position desired.

2. An air ship comprising a tubular car body made of strips of lightresilient material spaced apart, means for propelling the ship locatedin said body, and .wings or planes for sustaining said body while inflight.

3. An air ship comprising a circular tubular car body, made of strips oflight resilient material spaced apart, means for propelling the shiplocated in said body, and wings for sustaining said body while inflight.

4. An air ship comprising a tubular car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular strips orhoops, rotary means for propelling the ship, a motor within said carbody for actu-.

ating said propelling means, means within said car body for carrying thepassengers, and means above said car for supporting the same while inflight.

5. An air ship comprising a tubular car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular resilientstrips or hoops, means for propelling the ship, a motor within said carbody for actuating said propelling means, means within said car body forcarrying the passengers, and means above said body forsupporting the carwhile in flight.

6. An air ship comprising a tubular car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular resilientstrips or hoops, means for propelling the ship, a motor within said bodyfor actuating said propelling means, means within said body for carryingthe passengers, and a plurality of wings above said car for supportingthe car while in flight.

7 An air ship comprising a tubularv car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular flexible stripsor hoops, rotary means located within said body by which said ship ispropelled, a motor supported within said body for actuating saidpropelling means, means within said body for carrying the passen-' gers,and wings attached to said body for supporting the car while in flight.

8. An air ship comprising a tubular car body supporting wings therefor,resilient ribs in sald wings, a car suspended from said mugs, and meansleadlng from said rlbs whereby the same may be curved downward andretained in the position desired.

9. An air ship comprising supporting wings, resilient ribs in saidwings, a car provided with a tubular body suspended from said wings,means attached near the outer end of said ribs and leading to said carwhereby said wings may be bent downward shaping the wings to thecurvature desired.

10. An air ship comprising supporting wings, resilient ribs in saidwings, a car sus pended from said wings, and means at- .tached near theouter portions of said ribs and leading around beneath the car body tosupport both the ribs and the body, said means being also adapted to beadjusted to shape said ribs to the curvature desired.

11.- An air ship comprising a plurality of sets of superimposedsupporting wings. Y resilient IlbS 1n sald wings, a car suspended fromsaid wings, and means leading from said ribs whereby the same may becurved downward and retained in the position desired.

12. An air ship comprising'a car a plurality of sets of superimposedsupporting wings above said car. resilient ribs in said wings, a carsuspended from said wings, and

means attached near the outer portions of said ribs and leading aroundbeneath said car to assist in supporting said car from said wings andsaid ribs may be bent downward and shaped to the curvature desired.

13. An air ship comprising a tubular car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular strips orhoops, supporting wings, resilient ribs in said wings, said car beingsuspended from said wings, and means leading from said ribs whereby thesame may be curved downward and'retained in the position desired.

14. An air ship comprising a tubular car body, said body beingconstructed of longitudinal strips supported by circular strips orhoops, supporting wings, and means leading from said wings aroundbeneath said car body to assist in supporting and stiflening both saidbody and said wings, said supporting means being adjustable to shapesaid wings to the curvature desired.

15. In an air-ship, a passenger carrying car constructed of an elongatedcollapsible frame, means within said frame for propelling the ship, andmeans for supporting the car while in flight. 1

16. In an air-ship, an elongated car or frame formed of a plurality ofyieldable hoops spaced apart and held in position by a series ofremovable longitudinal slats or strips, mechanical means for raising theship bodily, means for forcing the same ahead, and means attached tosaid car for supporting the same while in flight.

14. In an air-ship, an elongated tubular collapsible car or frame formedof a plurality of resilient hoops spaced apart and held in position by aseries of longitudinal slats or strips, mechanical means for raising theship bodily, means for forcing the same ahead, and wings attached tosaid car for supporting the same while in flight.

18. In an air-ship, an elongated car or frame formed of a plurality ofresilient hoops spaced apart and held in position by a series oflongitudinal slats or strips, a covering on the upper portion of saidcar forming an extra surface to assist in supporting the same,mechanical means for raising the ship bodily, means for forcing the sameahead, and wings attached to said car for supporting the same while inflight.

19. In an air-ship, an elongated car or frame formed of a plurality ofhoops spaced apart and held in position by a series of longitudinalslats or strips, mechanical means for raising the ship bodily, means forforcing the same ahead, and wings attached to said car and adapted to befolded around the body of the same.

20. In an air-ship, a tubular collapsible car body formed of a pluralityof hoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats or strips spacedapart and removably secured to said hoops, means for forcing the shipahead, and wings attached to said car for supporting the same while inflight.

21. In an air-ship, a tubular collapsible car body formed of a pluralityof hoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats or strips spacedapart and removably secured to said hoops, means for forcing the shipahead, means for raising the ship bodily, and wings'attached to said carand adapted to be folded around the body of the same.

22. In an air-ship, an elongated car body formed of a'plurality ofresilient hoops spaced apart and held in position by a series oflongitudinal slats or strips, a passenger platform suspended from theupper portion of said car, means for forcing the car ahead, and meansabove the car for supporting the same while in flight. I 23. In anair-ship, a tubular cylindrical collapsible car body formed of aplurality of resilient hoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinalslats or strips spaced apart and removably secured to said hoops, apassenger platform suspended from the upper portion of said car, meansfor forcing the ship ahead, and wings attached to said car and adaptedto be folded around the body of the same.

24. In an air-ship, a tubular collapsible car body formed of a pluralityof resilient hoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats orstrips spaced apart and removably secured to said hoops, means forforcing the ship ahead, means for raising the ship. bodily, wingsattached to said car and adapted to be folded around the body of thesame.

25. In an air-ship, a collapsible car body formed of a plurality ofresilient hoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats or stripsspaced apart and removably se cured to said hoops, rotatable fans forforcing the ship ahead, rotatable fans for raising the ship bodily, andmeans attached to 1s laicl1 car for supporting the same while in 26. Inan air-ship, a collapsible car body formed of a plurality of resilienthoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats or strips spacedapart and removably secured to said hoops, rotatable fans forforcing-the ship ahead and backward, rotatable fans for raising the shipbodily, means for guiding the ship to right and left, means for guidingthe ship both up or down, and means attached to said car for supportingthe same while in flight.

27. In an air-ship, a tubular collapsible car body formed of a pluralityof resilient hoops spaced apart, a'series of longitudinal slats orstrips spaced apart and removably secured to said hoops, rotatable fansfor forcing the ship ahead and backward, rotatable fans for raising theship bodily, means for controlling the action of said fans, means forguiding the ship to right and left, means for guiding the ship both upor down, and wings attached to said car and adapted to be folded aroundthe body of the same.

28. In an air-ship, a collapsible car body formed of a plurality ofhoops spaced apart, a series of longitudinal slats or strips spacedapart and removably secured to said hoops, a supporting covering on theupper portion of said hoops, rotatable fans for forcing the ship aheadand backward, rotatable fans for raising the ship bodily, means forcontrolling the action of said fans, means for guiding the ship to rightand left, means for guiding the ship both up or down, wings attached tosaid car and adapted to be folded around the body of the same.

29. In an air-ship, a car body made in a tubular form, resilienthoop-shaped supporting ribs in said body rotatable means within saidtube for driving the ship ahead, means for guiding the ship up and downand to the right and left, and means above said car for supporting thesame While in flight.

20 means for supporting the car while in flight.

In an air-ship, an elongated tubular car body open at its ends,rotatable fans mounted within said tube for driving the ship ahead,rotatable fans within said tube for raising or lowering the same, meanswithin said tube for driving said fans, and wings or planes attached tosaid tube for supporting the same while in flight.

31. In an air-ship, a car body made in a tubular form, rotatable meanswithin said tube for driving the ship ahead, means for guiding the shipup and down and to the right and left, flexible wings on said tube forsupporting the same, and means whereby the free ends of said wings maybe ,drawn in around the body of the car.

32. An air-ship comprising a car body having yieldable hoops passengersupport-- ing means suspended from said hoops, and

33. An air ship comprising a car body supporting wingstherefor, meanscarried by the body .for' propelling the ship, resilient ribs in saidwings and means whereby the ends of said wings may be curved downward atthe will of the operator against the resiliency of said ribs.

supporting wings therefor, means carried by the body for justableresilient ribs in said' wings and means leading from said'ribs wherebythe ends of said wings may be curved downward at the will of theoperator against the resiliency of said ribs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. SMITH. Witnesses:

HOWARD BARLOW, E. I. OGDEN.

propelling the ship, ad-

34. An air ship comprising a car body

